MDA Technologies 2/2016

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things should not be a rose-tinted cloud The “Internet of Things” are the buzzwords of our time, everyone is talking about it. In this concept smart objects communicate with each other. So IoT should not be a rose-tinted cloud for companies and users, it must result in real advantages for them. because machines require ever higher investments, their availability is becoming more relevant. Management is responsible for ensuring that machines and systems are running at capacity. Maintenance is therefore turning into a management issue. The demands are obvious: The availability of production systems has to be maximized and stoppage times, especially unplanned ones, have to be minimized. For this reason, Aventics already started intensive work on predictive maintenance at the beginning of 2014 as an immediate application for IoT: “We recognized the need CONTROL AND MEASUREMENT With production systems in some major companies reaching a value of several hundred millions of euros, machines are increasingly becoming the strategic success factors. Maximum utilization of machine capacities, no stoppages, short cycle times, and just-in-time production are major elements. A defective part can cripple an entire factory. Unplanned stoppages can make a company run behind schedule, resulting in contract penalties. Today, making full use of system capacities is the key to remaining competitive. Smooth operation is essential, forward-thinking servicing or prognostic maintenance, termed “predictive maintenance”, is becoming increasingly important. “Using predictive maintenance solutions, operators can determine the condition of a system during operation and in real time. Predictive maintenance is a combination of condition monitoring and the ability to draw conclusions from the collected data,” explains Dieter Michalkowski, IoT expert at Aventics. Problems are already identified at an early stage and the optimum maintenance time for the system is calculated. This way, users can optimize their maintenance plan and avoid expensive stoppages. Maintenance becomes a management issue At management or board level, the subject of maintenance traditionally had low priority compared to other parameters. However, About Aventics Aventics is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pneumatic components, systems, and special applications. The company provides tailored solutions and services for the sectors of industrial automation, commercial vehicles, food and beverage, railway technology, life sciences, energy, and marine technology. By integrating electronics, the use of innovative materials and prioritizing machine safety, the pneumatic engineering company is a pioneer in intelligent and easy-to-use technology. With over 150 years of expertise in pneumatics, Aventics employs around 2,100 associates worldwide. In addition to production sites in Germany (Laatzen), France (Bonneville), Hungary (Eger), USA (Lexington), and China (Changzhou), Aventics is represented in more than 40 countries. The Aventics Group has received multiple certifications, including ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949 for quality, ISO 50001 for energy management, and ISO 14001 for environmental management. MDATechnologies 2/2016

On the way to intelligent pneumatic systems: The AV valve generation with AES electronics early on and already considered the topic when developing our most advanced generation of valves,” explains Michalkowski. Aventics knows all about the operating conditions and their impact on wear, “so high-quality statements on the condition and residual service life of actuators are possible. This has nothing to do with fortune telling and crystal balls, it’s precision engineering.” To ensure this kind of precision, Aventics monitors the number of switching procedures in its valve systems as well as other operating parameters to be able to predict the end of life. “This enables us to establish the condition of actuators, as well as guides or shock absorbers, by monitoring the time response,” emphasizes Michalkowski. CUSTOM TAILORED DRIVE SOLUTIONS FOR Machine Tool Aerospace Automotive Renewable energy Digital control as a basis Will IoT enter production halls like the Big Bang? “Evolutionary and revolutionary changes will go hand-in-hand, but a complex overall system will certainly not change in one go,” says Michalkowski. In order to offer customers the necessary degree of freedom in all of their decisions, Aventics made sure at a very early stage that its pneumatic components are “IoT ready”. The AV series in particular shows exactly what is possible. The valves not only impress with their pneumatic and mechanical features, they also offer the right control solution for every task. The Advanced Electronic System Brandenburger Strasse 10 D-88299 Leutkirch im Allgäu phone +49 7561 98248-0 info@ate-system.de www.ate-system.de ATE-Englisch.indd 1 24.02.2016 10:59:04 “Predictive maintenance is a combination of condition monitoring and the ability to draw conclusions from the collected data” Dieter Michalkowski, IoT expert at Aventics keeps you up to date (AES) supplies valve electronics designed to meet increased networking requirements. It regulates up to 64 decentral valves with a total of 128 coils. An important feature for IoT: engineers can extend the valve electronics by up to ten I/O modules. The AES uses these modules to handle the process signals locally, where they are generated, and can also control individual actuators outside the valve system. The light and compact valves get as close as possible to the actuators – networking creates a clear development design, even in large systems. In addition, the decentral I/O modules offer potential for further modularization, since only two cables for power and communication are needed to connect all pneumatic valves, sensors, or actuators linked to the AES with the higher-level control. Aventics is simultaneously pursuing multi-manufacturer approaches for its controls. According to Dieter Michalkowski “IoT demands shared protocols and interfaces across all levels and technologies.” Data is exchanged via real-time Ethernet. The AES electronics support all conventional fieldbuses and Ethernet protocols. They meet the basic requirements for a seamless information transfer from company IT to the pneumatic actuator – and back again. www.aventics.com www.facebook.com/ mdatechnologies www.mda-technologies.com www.google.com/ +Mda-technologies www.twitter.com/ MDA_Technology Follow us online! www.vimeo.com/ channels/ mdatechnologies MDATechnologies 2/2016 MDT_QR-Online_90x130.indd 1 29.03.2016 10:05:13